And according to research of 2,000 inspections by ClickMechanic, 50 per cent of motors would score poorly in at least one category.

The high failure rate means many motorists looking to buy a used car could be at risk of purchasing a problem vehicle if they don't have it put through a pre-purchase inspection - and could lead to them being hit with hefty surprise repair bills.

Of the 12 categories set out by ClickMechanic, used cars performed worst when it came to electrics, wheels and tyres - with almost a quarter of cars flagging issues.

These were followed by body exterior faults, then road test and engine compartment categories.

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Andrew Jervis, co-founder of ClickMechanic, said: “Any motorist looking to buy a used car should take care to ensure that it is in full-working order - no one wants a surprisingly expensive repair bill, not to mention the importance of safety.

"A pre-purchase inspection should always be conducted and you should remember to take the additional costs into account before buying the vehicle.”

Late last year, we revealed the important questions any buyer should ask to get the best deal on a used motor - and avoid getting stuck with a dud.